Early Years: 1755-1770

1755

1756

Seven Years’ War begins, with Austria and France as allies for the first time. The struggle focuses on the colonial rivalry between France and England and the fight in Germany between the house of Austria and the rising kingdom of Prussia.

1760

Maria Antonia lives a carefree early childhood, and receives a typical education for a young lady: one that focuses more on religion and moral principles than on the academic subjects in which their brothers were instructed.

Maria Antonia as shepherdess in ballet

1763

Seven Years’ War ends. To preserve the alliance between France and Austria, it is arranged that France's Louis XV's grandson should marry Maria Antonia.

A popular legend from around this time claims that Maria Antonia meets Mozart.